Sign 1
A new lump or thickening
It may be painless. A painless lump is not automatically harmless.
Breast cancer awareness · Lebanon
No womanshould facebreast canceralone.
Awareness is not only about detecting cancer. It is about protecting your health, making informed decisions, being supported through treatment — and never being left alone afterward.
Based on WHO, IARC and US National Cancer Institute evidence · 8‑minute read
38.7%of new cancers in Lebanese women are breast cancer
01 · The facts everyone should know
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Lebanon.
Behind every number is a mother, a daughter, a friend. These are the latest estimates from the World Health Organization's cancer agency.
2.4M
women diagnosed worldwide in 2024
Global · WHO
694,000
lives lost worldwide in 2024
Global · WHO
3,404
new cases among women in Lebanon
Lebanon · IARC 2024
978
women lost in Lebanon
Lebanon · IARC 2024
Out of every 100 new cancers in Lebanese women…
3,404 of an estimated 8,798 new cancer cases in women
≈ 39 are breast cancer — more than any other type.
19.2%
of all new cancer cases in Lebanon — men and women combined.
9,615
people in Lebanon living with a breast cancer diagnosis made in the past five years.
Modeled national estimates (IARC GLOBOCAN 2024, Lebanon fact sheet published September 2026), not a live count of confirmed diagnoses.
02 · Awareness
Know what's normal for you. Notice what changes.
Breast cancer begins when abnormal cells in breast tissue grow out of control. There is no single breast cancer — but there are four changes every woman should know.
Sign 2
Changes in shape or skin
New swelling, asymmetry, dimpling, puckering, redness or a change in texture.
Sign 3
Changes in the nipple
A newly inverted nipple, persistent changes, or spontaneous — especially bloody — discharge.
Sign 4
A lump near the armpit
Swelling in the armpit or around the collarbone also deserves a medical check.
Most breast lumps are not cancer — but every new change deserves a check.
See a qualified healthcare professional promptly rather than watching it at home.
Awareness and screening are not the same thing.
A normal mammogram does not mean a new symptom can be ignored. And an abnormal screening result does not automatically mean cancer.
Who should screen, and when?
WHO supports organized mammography for women aged 50–69.
Your plan may differ. Ask a Lebanese physician about your age, history, family history and any inherited risk. A strong family history may mean screening earlier.
Breast awareness
Knowing what is normal for your body and noticing changes.
Clinical assessment
A healthcare professional examines a symptom or concern.
Screening mammography
An X-ray for women without symptoms, to find disease earlier.
Diagnostic imaging & biopsy
Used when a symptom or a screening result needs clarifying.
Don't wait for pain.Don't wait for October.Don't let fear stop you.
03 · Prevention
Lower your risk — without blaming anyone who gets sick.
There is no guaranteed way to prevent breast cancer. But there are realistic choices that support your health.
80%
of breast cancers occur in women with no specific risk factor other than being a woman and getting older.Source: WHO
Keep moving
Walking, dancing, swimming — regular activity is linked to lower risk, especially after menopause.
Eat a balanced diet
Vegetables, fruit, whole grains. No single food or juice prevents breast cancer on its own.
Understand alcohol
Alcohol increases breast cancer risk. Avoiding it is a risk-reduction choice — never a judgment.
Know your family history
Tell your doctor about breast or ovarian cancer in close relatives. Genetic counselling may help.
Review medicines
Discuss hormone therapies with your doctor. Never act on a social-media post.
“Did stress cause my cancer?”
The evidence does not show that grief, stress or a hard life event directly causes breast cancer. No one becomes ill because they weren't positive enough. Emotional support matters because it helps you cope — not as a substitute for treatment.
04 · Diagnosis & treatment
A suspicious finding is not a verdict. Here's what usually happens next.
Fear and confusion are normal. Knowing the path ahead makes it easier to walk.
01
Clinical exam
A professional assesses the change and your medical history.
02
Imaging
Diagnostic mammography, ultrasound or other imaging as needed.
03
Biopsy, if needed
A tissue sample confirms whether cancer is present and its type.
04
Staging & profiling
The team checks the extent and markers such as hormone receptors and HER2.
05
Your own plan
Surgery, radiotherapy, chemo, hormone, targeted or immunotherapy — chosen for you.
Not every patient needs every treatment. Source: US National Cancer Institute.
Questions to ask your medical team
Print this list. Bring someone you trust. Ask them to explain any word you don't understand.
- What type of breast cancer do I have, and what does the stage mean?
- What are the goals of treatment in my case?
- What are my options, their benefits and side effects?
- Should I get a second opinion?
- Could treatment affect fertility, menopause, sexuality or body image?
- What financial help, insurance or social services are available?
- Who do I call if I have a new or worrying symptom?
- Should I talk about genetics or fertility preservation before treatment?
05 · During treatment
The emotional journey is real — and every feeling is allowed.
Breast cancer touches identity, relationships, work, parenting, finances and confidence. A woman may feel several of these at once:
- Fear of what comes next
- Grief for the body or life she expected
- Anger at the disruption
- Worry for children, parents, partner
- Guilt about needing help
- Relief — mixed with uncertainty
None of these means she is weak or coping “wrong”.
Five ways to make coping easier
Give feelings a safe place
Trusted people, a psycho-oncology professional, a counsellor or a support group.
Protect identity beyond illness
Friendships, hobbies, faith and ordinary routines that feel like her.
Stay connected, no pressure
Let her choose when to talk about cancer — and when to talk about anything else.
Ease practical burdens
Transport, work, childcare and money can matter as much as reassurance.
Seek professional support
Persistent anxiety, low mood or poor sleep deserve care. Asking is not failure.
A special message for mothers
“A mother is still a person who needs care — not only the person who provides it.”
- Explain the situation in honest, age-appropriate words.
- Tell children they can ask questions and share feelings.
- Avoid promises about outcomes no one can guarantee.
- Ask trusted adults to keep familiar routines going.
- Make room for your own needs, too.
06 · After treatment
The last treatment is a milestone — not a deadline for recovery.
Some women feel relief. Others feel exhausted, disconnected or afraid of recurrence. Often, both at once. This is the part of the journey people overlook.
Fear of recurrence
Worry before scans and follow-ups.
Acknowledge the fear; go with her if invited.
Fatigue & physical change
Less energy for work, family and friends.
Don't assume “treatment done” means “fully recovered”.
Body image & intimacy
Changes in confidence and how she feels in her body.
Listen. Don't comment on appearance unless invited.
Lymphedema & lasting effects
Ongoing symptoms that need management.
Encourage follow-up with her treating team.
Changing relationships
Others may expect her old role back, right away.
Ask what she can manage; respect her pace.
Work & money
Reduced income, ongoing costs, a hard return to work.
Help explore practical resources and adjustments.
Instead of
“Now you can finally move on.”
Try saying
“I'm glad you've reached this stage. I know there may still be difficult days. I'm here for those, too.”
Survivorship is not one story. Some women have no evidence of disease. Some live with metastatic cancer for years. Some face recurrence. No one who has advanced cancer has “failed to fight hard enough.”
07 · For family & friends
Afraid of saying the wrong thing? Start here.
Most people want to help. The best support listens, acknowledges feelings and respects her wishes — without insisting on positivity.
Say this
“I'm here for you, whatever you're feeling.”
She can be scared, angry, hopeful or tired — without managing your emotions.
“Would you like to talk, or just some company?”
It gives her control over the conversation.
“Can I bring dinner on Tuesday?”
Specific offers help more than “call me if you need anything.”
“You don't have to be strong for me.”
She doesn't need to hide her distress to protect you.
Avoid this — try instead
“Everything will be fine.”
“I hope for the best with you, and I'll be here one step at a time.”
“You must stay positive.”
“You don't have to pretend to be okay with me.”
“My friend had cancer and she was fine.”
“Every journey is different. What worries you most right now?”
“You look great, so you must feel better.”
“How have you been feeling lately? You can tell me honestly.”
Practical ways to help this week
- Drive her to appointments and take notes — with permission.
- Organise meals, groceries, childcare or school runs.
- Help track appointments and questions for the team.
- Never share her diagnosis without consent.
- Don't forward frightening stories or unverified “cures”.
- Keep checking in long after treatment ends.
For partners
Your fear is real — seek support for yourself too. Then ask her:
- “What would make this week a little easier?”
- “Would you like closeness today, or some space?”
For parents, siblings & children
Make room for honest talk without demanding updates. Children need simple explanations, steady routines — and should never carry an adult's illness.
For employers & colleagues
Talk privately, protect confidentiality, consider reasonable adjustments. A thoughtful workplace helps her keep her identity and belonging.
08 · Real stories
What women who lived it can teach us.
Published first-person accounts from Macmillan Cancer Support (UK). Individual experiences — not promises of the same outcome.
“You can't be strong all the time.”
Vicky found that counselling, a welcoming support centre — and a son who knew she didn't always have to be strong — made her feel less alone.
Lesson: resilience includes vulnerability.
Vicky · Macmillan · Nov 2025
Care for the whole family.
Diagnosed while caring for her husband and two children, Pragati saw how the way news is delivered — and family support — shapes everything after.
Lesson: she is a whole person, not a diagnosis.
Pragati · Macmillan · Mar 2026
Turning experience into community.
After her own cancer, Allia listened to other women's stories — and founded a support group for South Asian women in her community.
Lesson: one voice can start a movement.
Allia · Macmillan survivor account
The cost no one talks about.
Sal faced the shock of diagnosis alongside lost income and bills. Practical financial guidance helped her find the support available.
Lesson: compassion includes practical help.
Sal · Macmillan · Feb 2023
I am sharing my experience because it may help someone feel less alone. Your story is yours to share — in your own time, and only if you choose.
Share your story, safely
09 · What L'amour does in Lebanon
Inform. Connect. Accompany. Advocate.
Medical awareness and human compassion should never be separate missions. Four pillars, all year round — not only in October.
Pillar 1
Know and act
Medically reviewed education in Arabic, French and English.
Pillar 2
Easier to navigate care
Partnerships with hospitals, breast clinics, physicians and trusted NGOs.
Pillar 3
Support the person
Confidential support circles, family education and practical help.
Pillar 4
Mobilize Lebanon
Employers, universities and organisations sponsoring education and support.
L'amour is more than a name. It is a circle of support, a voice for every woman who fights, struggles, falls, gets up and keeps going.
To support and uplift women in need — whether facing illness, rejection, deception, loneliness, loss of direction, or simply a loss of meaning — by providing emotional support, guidance, resources and opportunities for a better future.
- Empathy
- We listen, we feel, we care.
- Solidarity
- Together we are stronger.
- Hope
- Every challenge can be a new beginning.
- Dignity
- Every woman matters.
- Action
- From compassion to real change.
You are more than your diagnosis.
More than your fears, your scars, your difficult days.
And you never have to face it alone.
Choose one step today. Each one matters.
Book a check-upTalk to your doctor about screening that fits you.Join a support circleConfidential, voluntary, and free to attend.Partner with usHospitals, employers, universities and NGOs.
L'AMOUR — Women Rise Together.